Shelf Awareness--Dream for the Land

PB Review: Dream for the Land

Dream for the Land by Laekan Zea Kemp, illus. by Leo Espinosa (Anne Schwartz Books, 40p., ages 4-8, 9780593710302)

Dream for the Land is a moving and ultimately hopeful look at how one family in the Southwestern U.S. works and dreams of rain during a megadrought.

A child with brown skin and messy pigtails chases bunnies away from crops on her family's small farm. But this is the second batch of tomatoes that looks "withered on the vine" and the squash is being destroyed by spider mites. When a horned toad "skitters across the soil," Pá demonstrates how to catch it, kiss its head, and make a wish. The hardworking family prunes and weeds, but the drought means clouds refuse to "burst open over [their] small farm." When Pá was a boy, this same land "used to be green as jewels" and he would swim in the "cobalt river"; now, the river is only a memory. The child realizes the family needs some magic: they find another horned toad and "plant a gentle kiss on his head," dreaming of "the world as it once was" and "the world as it could be."

Laekan Zea Kemp (Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet) tells a tenderhearted story that depicts the hardships of tending a drought-stricken land yet maintains hope. Illustrator Leo Espinosa (Islandborn) uses pencil and Photoshop to illustrate both sweeping landscapes and intimate emotion; an earth-toned palette uses gentle colors that realistically show the stark climate. Though the child's situation is dire, the story ends optimistically. A powerful author's note points out that although the Southwest is experiencing its longest megadrought in 1,000 years, there are "Indigenous communities and other communities of color that know exactly what the earth needs to heal." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

May Recommendations

THE DAY MOON AND EARTH HAD AN ARGUMENT, written by David Duff and illustrated by Noemi Vola, introduces young readers to the planets in the totally relatable terms of a couple of friends having a snarky spat. Even though “both said things they didn’t mean,” neither makes nice, and, “after 4.5 billion years together, [Moon] packs her things and leaves.” The illustrations are bright and cheerful and have gobs of personality—you’ve gotta love Moon’s pink and blue backpack with green straps, the socks and shoes worn by all the celestials, and all the expressive faces, especially the close-up of Moon, full page spread near the end, when she realizes she’s “a long way from home.” Backmatter gives more facts, I love, love this one for ages 3-6 especially!

POP! GOES THE NURSERY RHYME, written by Betsy Bird and illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi, is great, raucous, read-aloud fare. Beginning with —yes, Pop! Goes the Weasel, then on to Mary Had a Little Lamb, Jack and Jill, and more, the weasel in this story has way too much fun disrupting and subverting all of the rhymes. And there’s a large bird who’s taking it all very seriously… Kids will love reciting the familiar rhymes and shouting along with the weasel, and there’s a bit of extra suspense near the end to tie things up nicely. The cartoony digital illustrations are full of action and expertly describe the perfect dose of storytime chaos.

EXACTLY AS PLANNED, written and illustrated by Tao Nyeu, is a clever two-sided book that tells the same story from two different points of view. Moose, who has just knitted a red scarf, is invited to Fox’s home for tea, and decides to bring the new scarf as a gift. Unfortunately, along the way it unravels, and although Moose collects other “random” gifts along the way (apples and flowers), he’s still upset that he doesn’t have a proper gift for Fox. When Fox offers up a skein of pretty blue yarn, Moose knits his friend a hat, and the two chat for hours, enjoying a terrific visit, “exactly as planned.” Flip the book over, and we find Fox cooling freshly-baked brownies for Moose’s visit. When a crow flies off with the treats, Fox is terribly upset at having nothing to offer her guest, but then finds a strand of red yarn that’s gotten stuck on a bush. Since Moose “likes crafty things,” Fox gathers it up, collecting other small treasures, as well. Goat dyes the scruffed-up yarn a delightful blue color, then Fox goes home to welcome her guest. As Moose knits, Fox bakes an apple pie, and the two friends enjoy a terrific visit, “exactly as planned.” This pair of stories imparting kindness and cooperation weave together beautifully. Pastel-colored silkscreen and colored pencil illustrations on light beige paper reinforce the gentle tone and offer plenty to enjoy on repeated readings.

In THERE’S A GHOST IN THE GARDEN, written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Katty Maurey, a boy and his grandpa spend time together in a garden that’s full of activity. The ghost may be mischievous, “knock[ing] over flowerpots and trash cans,” or friendly, leaving “little presents.” Grandpa thinks there may be more than one, possibly deer ghosts or fox ghosts, or the “ghosts of migrant birds circling back to their old haunts.” There is peace in this garden, but also regret, as the forest is smaller now, the stream is gone, and the “air is loud with car horns and the neighbor’s music.” Still, the pair listen, and talk, and remember together, as a “ghost circle[s] back to its old home.” Maclear’s lovely, sweet, uplifting text is supported by Maurey’s pitch-perfect gouache on paper illustrations.

In DRAGON DREAMS, written by Roni Schotter and illustrated by Khoa Le, (human) sister-dragons have had “an angry day, with way too much pinching, poking, and pushing.” Daddy tucks them in for dragon dreams, and one sister stays awake listening to the night sounds. Then there’s “a rustle and a whirrrrr” and wings at the window announce her “own special dragon” has come calling. They fly high into the sky, where “stars wink their secrets,” and “comets leave messages on the blackboard sky.” When they arrive at the Secret Gathering, they find dragons “of every color and kind” carrying children “of every color and kind.” Daytime differences are resolved, there is dancing, until it’s time for home and more dragon dreams. A sweet fantasy, supported by a list of the many different dragons who made an appearance at the end, and dreamy, deeply-colored nighttime digital illustrations nicely enhance the magic.

ADI OF BOUTANGA: A STORY FROM CAMEROON, written by Alain Serge Dzotap, illustrated by Marc Daniau, and translated by the author, is a longer, older picture book about a girl who is part of a group of nomadic herders who live in a village of “great chameleon grasses.” Adults take what jobs are available, with Dad driving a “motorcycle as a cab,” and Mom now selling “makala—palm-oil doughnuts—on market days.” The girl loves going to school, where her demanding teacher shows her how to trace words in notebooks so “a strong wind [doesn’t] steal them as soon as they [leave her mouth].” But when Uncle Amadou decides she’s “already become a woman” and must marry, the girl and her parents quietly plan how to “oppose the decisions of the eldest member of the family” to save their “still a little girl” from the arranged marriage. The girl embraces a new life in a new place, far from her old village, where she can play and learn and grow up to fall in love, all in her own good time. An author’s note and backmatter about Camaroon give context. The text is riveting, and brightly colored oil on paper illustrations support it quite well.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Hurricane

PB Review: Hurricane

Hurricane by Jason Chin (Neal Porter Books, 48p., ages 5-8, 9780823458493)

In Hurricane, Caldecott and Sibert Medalist Jason Chin (Watercress; Life After Whale) delivers another sensational work of creative nonfiction that features precise details and exacting illustrations.

"A storm is raging over the Atlantic Ocean." But it's no ordinary storm, it's a hurricane, with "howling winds, raging waves, and torrential rains [that] can cause terrible destruction." And it's heading toward the east coast of North America. Luckily for people who live in its path, the storm is being watched by a weather satellite hovering 22,000 miles above Earth, meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center in Florida, and brave hurricane hunters who pilot their "airborne weather station[s]" into the very storm itself. Informed residents know to prepare with emergency supplies; they fuel cars, check on neighbors, board up windows, and when forecasts indicate lives may be at risk, these residents lock their doors and leave.

Chin's fascinating, information-packed narrative tracks the hurricane day by day, describing the violent storm and its effects on the residents in its path, while sidebars and back matter explain related topics. His pen, ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations gracefully and diligently depict both the meteorology and the urgent-yet-measured approach informed residents might take. Chin demonstrates the extreme importance of weather monitoring in general, and hurricane tracking in particular, offering a welcome presentation of how they can be vital to human safety and emergency preparedness. Hurricane is a top-notch addition to the strong body of hurricane picture books for children. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

May's Books of the Month

May’s Books of the Month are two distinctive biographies, both illustrated by Lauren Soloy.

The first, TOVE AND THE ISLAND WITH NO ADDRESS, is written and illustrated by Soloy. It describes how, the summer when she is seven, Tove Jansson and her family pack a boat with what they deem “essential” and “[move] to an island with no address.” There aren’t many people on the island, but there is plenty for young Tove to do, including “dangerous things, boring things, digging things, exploring things…” all of which she sets out to accomplish on the very first morning. She “visit[s] the grotto where her secret friend live[s],” offers to take his daughters for a walk, and gets caught in a terrible storm—during which the girls blow away! The book is atmospheric, fantastical fun, and hints at the creative mind of the woman who eventually was responsible for the wonderful, classic Moomin books. Back matter gives a bit more context, and Soloy’s text gets us into Tove’s head nicely.

The second, A TULIP IN WINTER: A STORY ABOUT FOLK ARTIST MAUD LEWIS, is written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Lauren Soloy. Young Maud is a content child, playing with her brother, “stroking the cats, listening to music, and playing piano.” But other kids tease her “for her crooked walk, and how small she [is].” As her fingers grow more stiff and bent, she turns from music to painting, and, as she grows up, “colour flow[s] through her days.” But adulthood is hard for Maud. No one will hire her, and after her parents die she becomes a live-in housekeeper for the “gruff as a billy goat” fish peddler Everett Lewis. Right away, she brightens the house with her colors, and when they run out, Everett scavenges some more. Maud and Everett get married, and drive around the countryside selling her paintings and his fish—until they have to sell the car because it’s too expensive. Through it all and until her death, Maud paints “all the beauty she had ever seen in nature.” Back matter here, too, is welcome for context.

In both books, Soloy’s colors are strong and lush, employing descriptive black outlines as needed, to achieve her moody-yet-whimsical, solemn-yet-mischievous, decidedly enchanting digital artwork. These are welcome additions to the picture book biography genre!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--I Come from Another Galaxy

PB Review: I Come from Another Galaxy

I Come from Another Galaxy by James Kwan (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 40p., ages 4-8, 9781419771149, July 1, 2025)

I Come from Another Galaxy humorously, compassionately--and with a healthy dose of cuteness--relates the story of a dauntless young human who finds that things are very different away from Earth, where they are now the alien.

"Hello, friends." Intrepid adventurer James, who's zooming off to school in another galaxy, explains that they're writing in their little book to share "discoveries from outer space." Their new classmates are all aliens, adorned with slimy tentacles, big googly eyes, and noodle arms. James has "never seen anyone like them!" At school, no one knows how to pronounce the young traveler's name ("Joo-mez?"), and the bathroom has so many buttons that James decides to "hold it in." Not only is James not slimy enough for slime-ball, but when it's time for show and tell--where everyone else shares their favorite shiny, fancy things--James realizes that all they have to share is their little book. Slowly, they open it and read what they've written.

Turns out communicating helps! Once the aliens learn how to say the name "James" correctly, they cheerfully say "hi" (and "greetings" and "beep boop") to the human, after which they advise "PRESS RED! THEN GREEN! THEN SQUARE!" to help James use the toilet. With the help of new friends James can even be slimy enough to play slime-ball. Finally, wonderfully, James offers up things from their own "alien" culture: toothbrushes, socks, and noodles for lunch ("!!!"). The little book, it turns out, lets James "feel bigger having shared it."

James Kwan (Dear Yeti) takes the familiar premise of aliens coming to Earth and spins it 180 degrees. James (the character) is an earnest adventurer who's exhilarated by all the exciting new things they can learn, and their counterparts in the other galaxy are likewise eager to find out about James, all of which delightfully affirms the power of dialogue and the benefits of keeping an open mind. Kwan's pencil drawings are digitally colored in dark pastels, and his characters are engaged, unthreatening, and frankly adorable as they demonstrate how easy it might be to help someone new feel at home. I Come from Another Galaxy beautifully suggests it is likely that everyone has "special stories to share"--even if they are stories from another galaxy. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

April's Book of the Month--A Universe Of Rainbows

April’s Book of the Month is A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS, a fascinating celebration of art and science, with poems selected by Matt Forrest Esenwine and illustrated by Jamey Christoph.

Seventeen accomplished poets contribute twenty-one uplifting entries, each of which delve into a different facet of the beauteous phenomenon that is the rainbow. We begin with a poem by Nikki Grimes which bemoans a rainy day devoid of sunshine, hopscotch, and soccer, only to end with the wonder of “the storm’s apology.” It’s accompanied by an explanation of how rainbows are created, some terms for talking about them, and the suggestion to make one of your own with a garden hose. Following are poems about sun dogs, moonbows, prisms and crystals, rainbows in water, rainbows on trees, rainbows on wings, and more. So many kinds of rainbows! The book winds down with Garden of Stars, by Georgia Heard, along with its explanation of the rainbow nebula, then the book finishes with a long list of resources and a glossary.

This intelligent book has it all— evocative poems, bright, eye-catching illustrations, and a good amount of science on the side.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Never Thought I'd End Up Here

YA Review: Never Thought I'd End Up Here

Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang (Scholastic Press, 320p., ages 12-up, 9781546110675, June 3, 2025)

In the inviting Never Thought I'd End Up Here, Ann Liang (This Time It's Real) gives the classic enemies-to-lovers trope a fun, fish-out-of-water twist by forcing her Los Angeles-born heroine to take a trip to China with her (now handsome) childhood nemesis.

Seventeen-year-old Leah Zhang was convinced that being a model would turn her from the ugly duckling into the swan. It did, to some extent, but it was also "an all-consuming force" that colored in "every single aspect" of her life. Worse yet, Leah hates being stared at--a huge problem when she realizes she has to offer a toast in Mandarin at her superstitious cousin's wedding. Leah, who generally communicates with her Chinese relatives "via elaborate gestures" rather than the language she barely knows, is given tips on what to say. Stressed and nervous, she accidentally wishes the happy couple a "depressing marriage" and hopes they "fall ill quickly." Leah's horrified mother signs Leah up for a two-week trip to China to immerse her in the language and culture. Unfortunately, "evil" Cyrus Sui, the boy responsible for a deeply humiliating betrayal that "permanently stained" Leah's school records, is also attending.

The pair are repeatedly thrown together, first on the airplane, then as teammates in the group competition, and Leah realizes she can humiliate Cyrus for ruining her life by playing up her flirtation and grabbing hold of his heart. She decides she will demand a public display of "chocolates and balloons and streamers," then laugh "long and loud, right in his face." But first, Leah will need to make Cyrus want her, and she's not immune to his "solemn, dark gaze and the visible cut of his collarbone." To her dismay, Leah becomes increasingly more affected by Cyrus's unexpected tenderness--and his "enviably long" eyelashes.

Liang spins her story with plenty of verve, as Leah develops from being somewhat lost and self-absorbed to a thoughtful young adult. While Never Thought I'd End Up Here is first and foremost a romance, Liang uses humor to explore cross-cultural disconnect and investigate the development of self-worth: as Leah's China trip proves an opportunity for an awkward, "uncultured" girl to learn she is actually worthwhile and "interesting" enough to make her own life choices. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

Shelf Awareness--Everybelly

PB Review: Everybelly

Everybelly by Thao Lam (Groundwood Books, 40p., ages 3-6, 9781773067643)

Everybelly is an amusing, original look at bodies and the idea of home, narrated by an inquisitive youngster who stands tummy-high to their neighbors.

One summery day, a child and their mother join neighbors at a local pool. Readers are first introduced to Mama, whose belly was where the narrator "used to live... until I grew too big." The brown-skinned child wears a flowery long-sleeved swim shirt, pink bottoms, and a polka-dot swim cap, as they discuss their neighbors. "Vibhuti's in a band. They know how to keep a beat"; an unnamed neighbor has a shy belly and prefers "pigeons to people" (which the kid understands because, likewise, they prefer "jelly beans to broccoli"). Also presented are neighbors with tattoos, wrinkled bellies, insulin pumps, appendicitis scars, stretch marks, and bellies that "make great tables." The diverse cast speaks to this child's easy acceptance of all bellies, though they do profess themselves puzzled by "flat" ones: Why do people "work hard to keep their bellies flat" when they can fill them with "ice cream topped with jellybeans, donuts in sprinkles, har gow, gimbap..."?

Everybelly showcases a delightful parade of funny, sweet, and sometimes misunderstood moments. Thao Lam (One Giant Leap) consistently employs a child-centric point of view in language and in her lively, innovative cut-paper collage illustrations. Brimming with goodwill, the child's cheerful spin on everything they encounter creates a welcome place for readers to feel at home. Indeed, Mama's belly, where the child used to live, bookends the story: the book closes with the child resting atop Mama's belly, a place that "will always feel like home." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

March Recommendations

In THE QUIET ONE, by Yiting Lee, Millie dreads Show and Tell. She doesn’t want to speak in front of her noisy classmates, so she escapes to a secret place that’s “filled with things that people had forgotten.” Millie finds a wheel, some roller skates, and a broken robot (named Arnold), which she cleans, fixes, and reboots. Together, Milly and Arnold transform the secret place into an elaborate playground. On Show and Tell day, Milly brings Arnold to school, and finds she’s so exited to talk about the robot, she’s not afraid anymore. The other kids are delighted with Arnold and with the playground, and “Milly [is] happy she ha[s] been heard.” Lovely digitally-edited watercolor and colored pencil art equally conveys emotion and whimsy. Pair it with The Most Magnificent Thing for two different takes on girls solving problems creatively—with tools!

ONE GIRL’S VOICE: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land, written by Vivian Kirkfield and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon, is the empowering story of how young Lucy Stone was full of “ideas, thoughts, and opinions,” but was supposed to keep quiet because the law in 1830s Massachusetts stated that “the voices of girls and women didn’t count.” Lucy saved her money to buy schoolbooks and put herself through college. Along the way, she encountered men who wanted to silence her, from her father to the minister at church to school administrators. But Lucy knew her voice mattered, and she proved it. The text moves quickly and assertively to portray Lucy’s smarts and determination, and watercolor and acrylic ink illustrations convey a folk-arty yet modern feel, with plenty of vibrant colors. This is an inspiring look at how one girl used her voice to make the world a better place.

PEPPER & ME, by Beatrice Alemagna, is the story of one child and their scab. Yes, when the narrator of this story scrapes their knee on a cobblestone, it’s like “a scary movie with you-know-what dripping down [their] leg.” At first they see the scab as hideous, but then they name it Pepper and the child and scab talk to each other and the scab even comes to their grandparents’ house for a visit. And then, one morning, Pepper is gone. This is a strangely sweet story with big feelings that leaves readers with a sense that somehow all is right with the world when it’s over. Alemagna’s art is splendid, as always.

JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY, written by Lisa Rogers and illustrated by Stacy Innerst, describes the way painter Joan Mitchell envisions a valley in her mind—she “doesn’t paint the valley’s flowers and meadows. She paints a feeling about them,” using “exuberant dashes of sun-soaked yellow, cotton-candy pink, inky black, bright raspberry, periwinkle, turquoise, tangerine—embraced by eternal blue.” Joan climbs the ladder up and down, looks and listens, thinks and feels. This creative picture book takes readers along as the artist works her way to her final exhibit, La Grande Vallée, a series of canvases that are full of meadows, slopes, and dells, joy and sadness, despair and delight. Back matter explains and inspires.

TEN-WORD TINY TALES OF LOVE, by Joseph Coelho and 21 Artist Friends, caught my eye when I opened it to the black and white image of ghosts in a graveyard, illustrated by Jon Klassen, which reads “They’d visit his grave yearly, before returning to their own.” Other pages may be more to your liking, but this book of evocative tiny tales features a compelling opening from the author, a closing with writing advice, and a middle filled with poignant, whimsical, extremely short stories illustrated in a variety of accomplished styles.

In THREAD BY THREAD, written by Alice Brière-Haquet, illustrated by Michela Eccli, and translated by Sarah Ardizzone, “knit one, purl one,” a mouse who's initially “toasty warm” at home, watches her world “begin to unravel.” The mouse family knows they must “up and leave, don’t look back, never let the thread go slack.” There are many dangers, and they dream of staying put, until eventually, “little by little, thread by thread,” they rebuild their nest. The text is minimal, making this an easy read for little ones even as it hints at darker subject matter, and the clever illustrations, which are created with “drawing, photography, and plenty of yarn,” nicely emphasize the whimsical.

--Lynn

March's Book of the Month--Bog Myrtle

Fun, eccentric, and mildly spooky, BOG MYRTLE, written and illustrated by Sid Sharp, is a terrific modern fairy tale—one that sits comfortably on my shelf next to Extra Yarn, The Spider in the Well, The Wooden Robot and the Log Princess, The Queen in the Cave, and The Skull. And Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden.

It’s the story of two sisters who live together “in a hideous, drafty old house on the edge of town.” Beatrice is sweet to a fault, and Magnolia is ceaselessly nasty. They’re too poor to afford yarn for a sweater, which Beatrice wants to knit to keep Magnolia warm, so Beatrice tries to trade a stone, a twig, and a cicada shell for it at the yarn store in town. The shopkeeper throws her out. When Beatrice returns the objects to the forest, the swamp woman, Bog Myrtle, threatens to turn her into a fly and eat her, but the pair end up bonding over their shared love of forest treasures and Bog Myrtle spins magic silk for Beatrice to make the sweater. When Magnolia sees the wonderful, magical sweater all she sees are dollar signs, and she sets up a factory in the basement, where she forces Beatrice and the spiders who share their home to churn out sweater after sweater for hundreds of dollars each.

I think that’s all of this quirky plot that I’ll share, but the story satisfies and the art delights. Indeed, this pro-union and -sustainability graphic novel is a treat from start to finish. The art was created with “pencil, gouache, watercolor, ink, beet juice, and dirt,” and it’s SO lovely, with bright colors, fun design elements, and characters who are varying levels of grumpy and/or cheerful. The book is well designed and uses good, thick paper that feels nice to hold. I’ll treasure my copy for years to come!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Frank's Red Hat

PB Review: Frank's Red Hat

Frank's Red Hat by Sean E. Avery (Walker Books Australia, 32p., ages 4-7, 9781761600661, May 6, 2025)

Frank's Red Hat is a hilarious tale of creativity--first scorned, then redeemed--as one inventive penguin tries to get his fellow seabirds to appreciate the finer qualities of his functional, fashionable way to keep warm.

Frank is known within the penguin community for "doing things differently" and for being "full of ideas." Unfortunately, most of his ideas are not great (such as the time he figured out how to spear multiple fish at once, only to have a resident walrus insist that Frank give its tusk back). The penguins are understandably nervous when, one day, Frank wears a red hat. Not only had the seabirds never seen a hat before but, in their "cold and colorless world," they had never seen anything red. Frank tries to explain that a hat is for "keeping your head warm--in style," but when Neville gives the hat a try, a killer whale leaps out of the ocean and eats the penguin "in one big bite." Despite Frank's assurances that the hat had nothing to do with Neville's tragic accident, the other penguins want nothing to do with the hat or with Frank.

Disappointed, Frank tries to get the penguins to appreciate his creation by making several differently colored hats in hopes of creating the perfect head covering, but the wary seabirds don't trust him at all. Frank decides to make one final, perfect hat: "The evil hat will end us all!" the terrified penguins yell, "waddling for their lives." Frank is crushed and vows to never again make another hat, until... a non-penguin someone asks for his masterpiece!

Sean E Avery (Happy as a Hog Out of Mud) uses jaunty text that is active, direct, and suitably sly. His characters feature large, round eyes with expressive eyebrow lines, and his world is rendered almost entirely in black, white, and grays, which allows the colorful hats to stand out. The clever, digitally collaged illustrations add plenty of humor and depth to the story, and readers are advised to pay attention: sight gags amplify the fun and loose ends are often tied up in the art. In fact, hints in the illustrations set up the possibility that savvy readers may guess at the resolution, and the final twist adds to the satisfying finish. Frank's Red Hat shouldserve as both a boisterous read-aloud and an excellent choice to linger with after story time. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

Shelf Awareness--Trouble Dog

PB Review: Trouble Dog

Trouble Dog: From Shelter Dog to Conservation Hero by Carol A. Foote, illus. by Larry Day (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 48p., ages 5-9, 9780802855817)

Trouble Dog deftly tells the story of Tucker, a sweet pup with boundless energy, who, after a few failed attempts, is adopted by a woman who recognizes his potential.

Tucker loves to play. But all his romping, CRASHING energy means he's returned to the shelter so frequently, the attendant begins to warn visitors, "Not this dog. He's trouble." Months go by, until Laura finds him and wonders if "maybe he's the right kind of trouble." Laura begins to harness Tucker's exuberance with special training. She introduces "a strange, new smell" and when Tucker recognizes that smell, they play. She tries hard to trick him but "Tucker's nose never fail[s]." She introduces other smells until they are working with a conservationist in Hawaii to find invasive rosy wolfsnails. The pair continues to seek out invasive and endangered plants and animals, helping scientists to study them. Tucker becomes a romping, leaping, crashing hero, who also finds love in his "forever home."

Journalist and debut picture book author Carol Foote's text is as buoyant as her protagonist, with plenty of heart for good measure. Her story champions second--and third, even fourth--chances, along with the idea that some deeply hidden talents may need extra care and attention to flourish. Larry Day (Found) uses a loose line in his watercolor illustrations that allows his fully saturated colors to bleed and blend, creating a natural feel of movement to mimic Tucker's playful nature. Backmatter explains that Trouble Dog is based on "the true story" of Pepin and Wicket and includes plenty of fascinating facts about conservation dogs. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

Shelf Awareness--All the Blues in the Sky

YA Review: All the Blues in the Sky

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 208p., ages 10-14, 9781547605897)

Coretta Scott King Award winner and Newbery Award honoree Renée Watson (Piecing Me Together) uses poetry and lyrical prose to sculpt All the Blues in the Sky, a deeply affecting window into healing that skillfully manages to be both heartbreaking yet full of hope.

A month ago, on 13-year-old Sage's birthday, her best friend was killed by a drunk driver. Since then, Sage struggles to understand why "sometimes no one sees death coming," especially when it suddenly and senselessly comes for a best friend as "mangled metal wrapped around/ a street sign." Grief group at school provides a safe space. There, Sage meets Ebony, who helps her understand that when life feels like an ocean, "there is something/ to hold on to/ to keep you afloat." But healing is slow and difficult, and Sage is constantly reminded of everything her best friend will never get to do. Luckily Sage is surrounded by fellow grief group members, wise and loving adults, and even a neighborhood boy to crush on, as she begins to slowly make her way toward acceptance and healing even through horrific and ongoing loss.

All the Blues in the Sky is an intimate, intense portrayal of grief as well as the uncertainty and promise of tomorrow. Watson's hybrid style skillfully makes use of poetry and lyrical prose to crack open the heart of her protagonist, while grounding Sage in a realistic middle school experience. The author sure-handedly balances intense, engulfing sadness with moments of love and beauty, and shows how life, and death, carry on, with every person affected differently. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

Shelf Awareness--The Interpreter

YA Review: The Interpreter

The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi, illus. by Monica Arnaldo (Kokila, 40p., ages 5-8, 9780593620441)

Olivia Abtahi (Perfectly Parvin) and Monica Arnaldo's first picture book collaboration, The Interpreter, is an earnest and endearing depiction of a child who becomes overwhelmed while serving as translator for her Spanish-speaking parents.

While some kids have only one job--"to be a kid"--Cecilia has two: in addition to school and soccer, she acts as interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents. Cecilia goes with her caretakers to all sorts of "grown-up places" and assists with appointments, making small talk with other parents, and translating phone calls and websites. Cecilia works so much "overtime," she's exhausted! At parent-teacher meetings, an adult asks Cecilia how she's doing and she explodes. Luckily, the girl's loving, grateful parents are compassionate and quickly understand that their daughter needs help. Now, Cecilia can perform her important job as interpreter and still have time for her other, equally important job: being a kid.

Abtahi, who herself played the role of Spanish, English, and Farsi interpreter as a child, delivers a clever, straight-from-the-heart story. Her portrayal of the emotional and physical toll Cecilia experiences hits home, as does the gratifying way her parents pivot to meet their daughter's needs. Arnaldo (Mr. S.), who also translated for her Spanish-speaking parents while growing up, employs dynamic watercolor and pencil crayon art to emphasize Cecilia's two distinct roles, illustrating the girl "working" in an oversized suit and showing a frenzy of activity by overlapping and blending colored speech bubbles (blue for English, orange for Spanish). This bilingual narrative is an excellent, resonant picture book for kids and caretakers alike. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

February Recommendations

RAMON FELLINI, THE CAT DOG DETECTIVE, written and illustrated by Guilherme Karston, is a spoofy mystery featuring a (spoiler alert) cat who poses as a dog to investigate an unfortunate fishbowl attack. The shady detective takes charge and the clueless boy hands over his fish to allow the dog/cat to investigate further. The stylized digital art ups the ante, with lots of clues that point to a fittingly noirish (offscreen) ending. Plenty of interesting angles and patterns help give it a distinctive look, and the dark backgrounds make bright foregrounds pop. This is silly, subversive fun with a fairly dark vibe.

In ADELA’S MARIACHI BAND, written by Denise Vega and illustrated by Erika Rodríguez Medina, Adela loves her family’s mariachi band—the way “the music skips and bounces,” how "her family dances and claps,” and the way “the band and the audience come together as one.” The only problem is that Adela’s not in the band. When Adela tries to play Papa’s trumpet, there’s only a small, dribbly “PFFT.” Her guitar goes “ERREEEK” instead of “PING!” And when she tries to dance—“SPLAT!” But readers will appreciate how Adela figures out a way to contribute to her family’s mariachi band sooner rather than later. Lively, mostly English text has plenty of Spanish sprinkled throughout, and the colorful digital illustrations are dynamic. An author’s note explains more and makes it personal.

THE SHIP IN THE WINDOW, written by Travis Jonker and illustrated by Matthew Cordell, stars Mabel, a little mouse who lives in a lakeside cabin with a man who has built a prize model ship, and a boy who’s not allowed to touch it. Mabel wonders what it would be like to sail it like a real ship, “navigating rough seas…using the stars to guide the way.” One day, she manages to maneuver the boat to the shore of the lake and jumps in. ’Twas a tough night to sail, but Mabel navigates it well, at least until she’s distracted by the humans loudly searching for the lost ship. The story, with its shades of Stuart Little, is engaging and evocative, as is the gorgeous art by Caldecott medalist Cordell—multiple pages are worthy of a frame.

THERE ARE NO ANTS IN THIS BOOK, written by Rosemary Mosco and illustrated by Anna Pirolli, is a meta story about a kid who thinks this “nice-looking book” would be perfect for a picnic, especially since the cover clearly states that “there are no ants in this book.” This premise, however, very quickly proves false, as one (an acorn ant), two (a dinosaur ant), three (a pharaoh ant), and seven more interesting, distinctive kinds of ants show up, to shock the narrator, who soon decides that maybe ants are cool—and worth saving from anteaters! Fun facts about all the different kinds of ants, in text and backmatter elevate this from a basic counting book into a fun outing. Uncluttered text zips right along, and bold, colorful illustrations seal the deal.

LOST, by Bob Staake, is wordless story about a girl whose cat has run off. She makes “lost” posters and soon finds that others in her community are missing pets, as well. The postman’s bird has flown away, the dog belonging to a woman on a bench has tunneled out, and a man at the grocery store can’t find his… giraffe?! The scent of a hot dog begins to return things to a satisfying, whimsical, cheerful conclusion. The busy cartoony-looking, sequential art is mostly black and white, with carefully placed color highlights to keep readers focused on the main action.

A PARTY FOR FLORINE: FLORINE STETTHEIMER AND ME, by Yevgenia Nayberg, is about how a girl sees a painting in a museum, that of an artist who looks just like her, and the girl, also an artist, decides to find out more. Through the girl’s musings, we learn about Florine and her glamorous family, who spend their time “painting, dancing, and writing poetry.” Also, “lounging around in white silk pants,” and “throwing parties!” The girl wishes she “could be like Florine,” throwing parties and not sulking in her room while it rains. Next day, the girl does go outside in the rain, where she sees “the world around [her] is full of color and full of surprise. Like Florine’s.” The text dances and sings across the page, much in the way “everything Florine painted danced and sang on a canvas.” The art is “purple socks, yellow books, skinny cats, giant flowers, darkness and light,” swooping and flying to match the text. Backmatter fills in missing biographical material, allowing the main body of the book to soar.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--After Life

YA Review: After Life

After Life by Gayle Forman (Quill Tree Books, 272p., ages 12-up, 9780063346147)

Gayle Foreman's After Life is an engrossing portrayal of grief and healing that revolves around a teen hit-and-run victim who comes back from heaven, hell, or "the whatever" and realizes that the lives of her loved ones have been drastically altered by her death.

Seventeen-year-old Amber Crane, "a white girl with honey-colored hair," realizes she's unsure of the day as she rides her bike home from school. When she arrives, Amber learns that she has been dead for seven years. Her at-the-time nine-year-old sister, Missy--now blue-haired and called Melissa--is almost the age Amber was when she died; Amber's mom freaks out and her atheist dad is now a believer and certain a miracle has occurred. Worse, her parents have separated, her "forever" boyfriend is a bartending, "druggy loser," and her once-close Aunt Pauline is now estranged and living in New Zealand. As Amber struggles to understand why she's come back, she begins to appreciate how her life--and her death--had far-reaching effects: on her friends, the school photographer, an English teacher, even a woman who works at a nearby pet shelter.

After Life tackles love and forgiveness, interconnectivity, and the possibility of a "different sort of existence" tangential to life and death. Foreman (Not Nothing; If I Stay) uses flashbacks to enrich Amber's narrative and also weaves in past and present accounts of family members, as well as people who seem at first to be only marginally involved. Earnest and absorbing, After Life describes how one individual may touch the lives of many, in life as well as in death. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

January's Book of the Month--Poetry Comics

January’s Book of the Month is the musing, meditative POETRY COMICS, written and illustrated with sequential art by Grant Snider.

“I want to put down/on paper the feeling/of possibilities.” So begins this gentle collection of poems, broken into seasons. Spring allows for imaginings and growth, what-ifs like Reflections (in the still pond/the same world/but blurred), If I Were a Tree, and Becoming. Summer is a “festival of fireflies,” a time for “sinking baskets/to the applause/of the setting sun;” it’s time to ride a Roller Coaster and engage in Cloudspotting. Fall brings Fishing, and “stars in conversation,” and waiting for the Late Bus, while Winter offers “a new page” where “words huddle close/to keep warm.”

The text is thoughtful yet full of activity, and offers a nice balance between exploring inner and outer worlds. Pen, marker, and Photoshop illustrations are laid out in inviting panels, with plenty of earth-and-sky pastels punctuated by primaries; characters are rendered simply yet expressively. Both text and art are uncluttered and accessible, and the book feels fresh and inspirational—like an ode to creativity and pondering the universe!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--What Makes a Bird?

PB Review: What Makes a Bird?

What Makes a Bird? by Megan Pomper, illus. by Maia Hoekstra (Owlkids, 32p., ages 5-8, 9781771476133, February 18, 2025)

What Makes a Bird? is a wonderfully thought-provoking picture book debut that ruminates on the surprisingly difficult question of how one defines a bird: Is there a single, preferred way, or is a bird, perhaps, more than simply the sum of its parts?

Through a series of well-considered questions, a brown-skinned child wearing a blue cap and kerchief and carrying binoculars tries to understand what, exactly, makes a bird. Is a bird "a bird" because of its feathers? But each feather the child finds on the beach is "not on a bird anymore," so does that make the bird "one part less bird?" Does it make the child holding the feather "one part more bird?" Maybe a bird is a bird because of its beak: there are many kinds of beaks, and whether they're "small and pointy" or "flat and rounded," every bird seems to have one. But if octopi have beaks, does that mean they are birds, too? Wings seem important, but bees also have wings. Perhaps a bird is defined by hatching from an egg. But a snake also hatches from an egg, as does a platypus, a fish, a lizard, and a turtle. If flying is the answer, "what about ostriches and emus and kiwis?"

Readers then begin to reach the crux of the matter, because now the child wonders if being a bird is "all of these things" or "none of them." And, really, who should get to decide? This book and its wise protagonist ultimately conclude that perhaps what exactly makes a bird doesn't matter; "they can be similar, different, ordinary, unique.../ and they can all still be birds."

Megan Pomper's child-friendly, contemplative text encourages scientific, empathetic, and poetic thinking that ponders deeply about the essence of bird-ness. Indeed, her story may even prompt some savvy readers to reflect on what constitutes a human being and who gets to decide. Maia Hoekstra's dynamic illustrations use natural tones combined with swirls of bright color as well as close-ups and active angles to create an impressionistic sense of a wide variety of birds and their habitats. Back matter identifies the many species pictured in the book and invites readers to create names for the three made-up birds "from the artist's imagination." What Makes a Bird? is an excellent and accessible meditation on identity. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness Pro.

Shelf Awareness--Fortune's Kiss

YA Review: Fortune's Kiss

Fortune's Kiss by Amber Clement (Union Square & Co., 368p., ages 13-up, 9781454950219)

Fortune's Kiss is a riveting, radiant, and often bloody YA novel that features two young women in dire straits who compete for their hearts' desires in a gambling house with unbelievably high stakes.

Best friends Lo and Mayté made a pact as children: if the magical gambling hall, Fortune's Kiss, ever returned to Milagro, they would work together to win the ultimate prize of "life-changing fortunes and their most desperate wishes granted." Now, a decade later, Fortune's Kiss reappears, and the girls are more determined than ever. Seventeen-year-old Lo dreams of finding her mother while also escaping unwanted suitors and her abusive father. Mayté, also 17, who has watched her father drink and gamble away her family's fortune, dreams of becoming a famous painter. But the casino's stakes are enormous--losers return "a mess" (if they return at all) and the steep price of entry is "a large sum in golden coins," a person's "most prized treasure," or, rumor has it, blood. Nonetheless, Lo and Mayté try their luck. The young women enter "El Beso de la Fortuna," where they are immediately drugged, pitted against each other, and forced to play by the house's own secret--and deadly--rules.

Fortune's Kiss is Amber Clement's vivid, colorful, and intense debut, a tale steeped in a magical Latine culture, peppered with Spanish words and phrases, and chock-full of the macabre. Gripping and gory, the novel features two strong heroines who struggle to hold on to what's most important to them while at the mercy of magic, a seemingly sentient gambling house, and even each other. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.